Rugby: Morgan is first NRU woman president

Sharon Morgan is the new Northland Rugby Union President - the first female president in NRU history. Photo/Supplied

Sharon Morgan has broken through the grass ceiling to become Northland Rugby Union's first female president.

The Whangarei District Council Deputy Mayor was elected at the NRU annual general meeting, replacing Brett Hewitt after his three-year term.

Formerly a NRU board member, Morgan was nominated by the Otamatea Sub-Union and unanimously elected.

Morgan said it was a huge privilege to be elected.

"I'm deeply honoured and thrilled to be the first women to be elected to this position in Northland Rugby," she said.

"I'm pleased to have the opportunity to have input into the ongoing development and direction of Northland Rugby.

"While only on the Board for a year, I gained a hands-on view of the mechanisms and intricacies of how the board operated.

"But first I will need to prove that women are capable of operating in what has traditionally been a male domain."

Morgan's appointment as president could very well be the first of its kind in New Zealand. However, that cannot be confirmed as the NZRU said they did not keep records of every union's list of presidents.

Morgan has a wealth of knowledge about the sport she has been actively involved with for many years.

She has big goals for her presidential term.

"I want to assist with the implementation of the five-year business strategy to ensure the continued improvement of Northland Rugby," she said.

"There is also the British and Irish Lions in June, the celebration of a 100 years of Northland rugby in 2020, and the desire to develop a Rugby Hall of Fame and Museum within the precinct of the Pohe Island Building.

"To succeed in the future and all facets of Northland Rugby we need to become part of the mix that will take Northland back to the powerful union it once was.

"One recent step that I endorse has been to appoint a rugby development officer for women's rugby."

Murray Dunn, NRU board director and chairman of the NRU Council of Unions, congratulated Sharon on her appointment and said her business acumen and local body governance experience, combined with her long history in rugby would be invaluable to the union.

Morgan said her years of experience in the sport would assist her in making a good fist of the position.

"I have been involved in rugby for many years. Firstly, during the 70s when my late husband Joe played at club, provincial and national level," she said.

"During this time I was secretary of the Northland Rugby Supporter's club, support and liaison person for the North Auckland players' wives and partners.

"During my children's time I was fully involved in their rugby at Mangakahia. For the past 13 years I have been secretary for the Vikings Rugby Football Club.

"Each of these experiences will assist me in this position."